sierraclub.org - sierra magazine - january/february 2010 - survive
Survive | On Thin Ice
ASK THE EXPERT
Seth Hawkins is an assistant professor in the wilderness emergency medical care program at Western Carolina University. His specialty is submersion injuries.
Before you get out on the ice, think in advance about what to do if it breaks. Above all, don't panic.
In McHugh's case, the ice kept breaking under him partly because of his hoisting approach. It's better to move to the strongest ice, flutter kick to get your body as horizontal as possible (to distribute your
body weight more evenly), and then try to roll out.
Illustration by Koren Shadmi